Police Say Man Got Federal Aid, Lived Like King

September 14, 1990|By KEVIN DAVIS, Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE -- When he applied for federally subsidized housing three years ago, David Vogel claimed he was disabled, had hearing trouble, earned less than $250 a month and was supporting a wife and child.

But police were tipped off that something might be amiss when Vogel showed up at the Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority Office one day last fall in a Cadillac convertible.

On Thursday, Vogel was arrested after police said they learned he was separated from his wife, had no child at home and had been making $70,000 a year running a prostitution service from his government-subsidized apartment.

Vogel, 53, was charged with felony counts of grand theft and welfare fraud. Earlier, he was charged by Coral Springs police with living off the earnings of prostitutes.

The investigation started after Vogel went to the housing office to refile his forms and file affidavits on his status. A worker noticed the Cadillac, and investigators then learned Vogel had numerous credit cards.

``You and I and the taxpayers were footing the bill for this guy,`` said Detective Kevin Allen, who investigated the case. ``He`s in government housing and running a prostitution ring.``

Until June, Vogel was living in a $525-a-month apartment in an eight-unit building in the 800 block of Southwest 30th Street, Allen said.

``It`s a nice place,`` Allen said. ``He lived there with his girlfriend.``

Vogel received more than $14,000 in housing subsidies from October 1987 until moving from the apartment in June, Allen said. In the meantime, Allen said, Vogel was operating the call girl service.

Housing Authority officials could not be located for comment on Thursday night.

Allen`s investigation showed that Vogel ran a business called Diamond Enterprises, an escort service that advertised in local papers.

Records Coral Springs police seized at Vogel`s apartment showed he was making about $70,000 a year, ``And we were still paying for his housing,`` Allen said.